Windows dedicated server

This is a setup guide that allows you to install a basic TF2 server. In the below example the server is installed onto the C drive in a folder called 'hlserver'.

Download and install the HLDS Update Tool

• Download HldsUpdateTool.exe and run it to install the updater tool.
• Choose where to install it to, for example 'c:\hlserver'. Make sure that the install path is different from the directory where HldsUpdateTool.exe has been downloaded to, otherwise it gives the error that another HldsUpdateTool.exe installer is in use.

Create an updating batch file

• Create a file called update.bat in the folder where you installed the tool, i.e. 'c:\hlserver'
• Edit the file with this text:

HldsUpdateTool.exe -command update -game tf -dir "c:\hlserver" -verify_all -retry
pause

Start the download/update

• Run the update.bat to start the download, may take several hours as dedicated server content is currently 4.1GB
• You may need to run the file *multiple* times until the message "HLDS installation up to date" displays.

Create/update server files

• Create a file called server.cfg in 'C:\hlserver\orangebox\tf\cfg'
• Edit the file with these details

hostname "Your_Servers_Name"
rcon_password "Your_Rcon_Password"
sv_contact "admin@yourdomain.com"
mp_timelimit "30" 

• edit the files motd.txt, maplist.txt and mapcycle.txt all found in the 'C:\hlserver\orangebox\tf' folder

Create a batch file to run the server

• Create a file in 'C:\hlserver\' called tf.bat
• Edit the file with this text:

orangebox\srcds.exe -console -game tf +map ctf_2fort +maxplayers 24

• Run the file tf.bat to start your server

Sources

• Steampowered Support Wiki Guide: Settingup a Standalone Dedicated Server
• srcds.com

Further reading

• Steampowered Support Wiki Managing Bans on a Server

See also

• Linux dedicated server
• Dedicated server configuration